mishmash

the longer that i am here, the more things i come to understand about the culture in which i have immersed myself. im not on cultural overload, but rather something just before that point. each day brings a smattering of new phrases, customs, and experiences. i am trying really hard to learn the alphabet. i have about half of it down, but it is really difficult to remember. while i remain utterly amazed that i am living in a country where i have little to no language skills and yet somehow have managed to survive, i know that my ability to navigate life will be greatly improved once i have some korean down.

other things that i am realizing:

- most koreans are markedly more feminine than their american counterparts. for this reason, i often feel strangely bumbling and masculine. although i would not claim to be overly girly, it is really strange to see so many men who are "prettier" than half the women i know, including myself.

- koreans are insane about education. they go to school all day and then spend all afternoon and evening in academies, like mine, honing their talents (english, music, etc.) many of them rarely see the light of day and "fun" is relative. it is currently summer break, and the kids spend this time attending intensive academic camps, like those given by my school. parents, especially mothers, complain if teachers don't give enough homework of if they dont think their students are working hard enough in class.

- i have never seen so many wearers of glasses in my life.

in other news, my one-night trip to japan is officially scheduled for monday. its going to be an early trip (the bus to the airport leaves at 3:50am) and some legs of the trip are very closely timed, but i think it will be really fun. its sort of a rite of passage for english teachers in korea, and everyone seems to have a story about their experiences there. im also pretty fired up for what the trip means for me: not being an illegal. well, technically im not illegal because im not teaching yet, but having my visa will allow me to register and registering means i can get finally get a cellphone, a bank account, and therefore MONEY!

anyway, not much else going on here. just loving my korean life (and the food!).